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The Federal Government has announced a partnership with UnitingCare Australia to create long-term employment pathways for women in the community and aged care sectors.

Through the Government’s $5 billion jobactive program, which commences on 1 July 2015, the project will engage with projects that focus on supporting women back into the workforce once their youngest child has reached school-age.

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator Michaelia Cash, said there will also be opportunities for other women who are facing barriers in returning to work or entering the paid workforce for the first-time. Participants in the project will be supported to get work-ready for specific jobs with UnitingCare employers.

Senator Cash said the under-representation of women in the labour force represented a loss of skill, talent and expertise from the Australian workforce.

“We have a unique opportunity to capitalise on this underutilised pool of labour to build the larger, more productive and skilled workforce our economy needs,” Cash said.

“The benefits of increasing women’s workforce participation extend beyond safeguarding our national economic prosperity. Research shows that increasing women’s workforce participation has benefits for business through access to a greater skill and talent pool, improved productivity among employees, lower staff turnover and improvements to organisations’ reputations.”

Minister for Employment, Senator Eric Abetz, said the Government’s new jobactive system would ensure that job seekers receive the practical help they need to move from welfare to work, and that employers are sent candidates that have the skills and attitudes that meet their business needs.

“The Government remains committed to putting in place practical policies to assist those who are seeking to re-enter the workforce – this partnership with UnitingCare is one such initiative aimed at boosting productivity,” Senator Abetz said.

UnitingCare Australia National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds, said that UnitingCare agencies exist for the wellbeing of the communities and people they serve.

“Increasingly, the people we employ are also recipients of our services. Giving people employment opportunities is another way we can assist families and communities,” Hatfield Dodds said.

“The kinds of positions available will vary, but could include positions in aged and palliative care, disability and homelessness support work, early-years care, transport, or administration roles. Our goal is to offer entry level jobs that have long-term prospects for career growth.

“We also hope that these demonstration projects will result in us all learning more about how to best remove the barriers to women’s participation in employment.”

Senator Cash said it was the Government’s position that employment was a key to strengthening wellbeing and providing economic prosperity not only to women, but also to the families they supported.

“This project will also provide opportunities for those disadvantaged and vulnerable women to access employment pathways that will break down the barriers to participation and assist them and their families out of the poverty cycle,” she said.

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